Trick or Trade

One of the largest trades ever made in National Football League history occurred on Halloween Day in 1987. The marquis name in the three-way deal between the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Indianapolis Colts was Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.

In all, the deal involved 10 players and draft choices. Only four other deals in NFL annals ever had more players involved.

Here's a breakdown of the trade made on October 31, 1987:

RAMS

TRADED

Eric Dickerson, RB

RECEIVED

Greg Bell, RB

Owen Gill, RB

Buffalo No. 1 – 1988 (Gaston Green, RB, 14th overall)

Indianapolis No. 1 – 1988 (Aaron Cox, WR, 20th overall)

Indianapolis No. 2 – 1988 (Fred Strickland, LB, 47th overall)

Buffalo No. 1 – 1989 (Cleveland Gary, RB, 26th overall)

Indianapolis No. 2 – 1989 (Frank Stams, LB, 45th overall)

Buffalo No. 2 – 1989 (Darryl Henley, DB, 53rd overall)

COLTS

TRADED

Owen Gill, RB

Rights to Cornelius Bennett, LB

No. 1 - 1988

No. 2 - 1988

No. 2 - 1989

RECEIVED

Eric Dickerson, RB

BILLS

TRADED

Greg Bell, RB

No. 1 – 1988

No. 1 – 1989

No. 2 – 1989

RECEIVED

Rights to Cornelius Bennett, LB

Largest Trades in NFL History

(Based on number of players or draft choices involved)

18 - Oct. 13, 1989 - RB Herschel Walker from the Dallas Cowboys to the Minnesota Vikings. Dallas also traded its third-round choice in 1990, its tenth-round choice in 1990, and its third-round choice in 1991 to Minnesota. Minnesota traded LB Jesse Solomon, LB David Howard, CB Isaac Holt, and DE Alex Stewart along with its first-, second-, and sixth-round choices in 1990, its first-and second-round choices in 1991, its first-, second-, and third-round choices in 1992 to Dallas. Minnesota traded RB Darrin Nelson to Dallas, which traded Nelson to the San Diego Chargers for the Chargers' fifth-round choice in 1990, which Dallas then sent to Minnesota.